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About the Youth Border BioBlitz Project The Youth Border Bioblitz Project is an open invitation to youth and their families in the greater San Diego region to join us in embarking on a collective journey to explore, understand, and document the biodiversity of our coastal and borderland ecosystem communities through community science. This program culminates with the Border Bioblitz occurring in May 2024. As a cohort, we will be meeting once a month at various outdoor natural spaces in San Diego County to learn about and document the biodiversity of our coastal and borderland ecosystem communities. This program is free for participants and we will provide resources to help overcome obstacles to participation. Who Should Apply Middle school and high school youth in San Diego County interested in community science, climate resilience, and environmental justice. BI&POC and underrepresented communities in outdoors spaces are especially encouraged to apply. Gatherings are intergenerational. While we will be focusing our programming on the primary cohort participants, family members are welcomed and encouraged to come to gatherings as well to be present and support. Timeline November 10 Applications Due November 15 Notification to cohort recipients November 18 Zoom Meeting Orientation December 3 In-person gathering January 6 In-person gathering February 17 In-person gathering March 9 In-person gathering April 6 In-person gathering May Border Bioblitz: In-person gathering June Last meeting: In-person gathering How to Apply Applications must be submitted by November 1, 2023. We will notify applicants by November 10, 2023. ​ Apply Here About the Facilitators Mario Ceballos A parent of three, an Indigenous Scientist, and a lover of nature and community learning. Mario is the lead educator for the POC Fungi Community and leads nature walks and introduces both young and older people to the joys of looking for mushrooms and learning about fungi ecology. Mario is also Co-chair of the Yaquis of Southern California and leads their Earthkeeper program as well. Bianca Bonilla Bianca is a mother, farmer, and botanist passionate about connecting people with plants and our ecologies. She is the founder and executive director of Botanical Community Development Initiatives. She is also one of the co-founders of the Border BioBlitz. Questions? Bianca Bonilla bianca@plantspeoplecommunity.org Mario Ceballos pocfungicommunity@gmail.com This project is in collaboration with: Project funded by: Binational Resilience Initiative, partnership of San Diego Foundation, International Community Foundation, Resilient Cities Catalyst and San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative.

The Plant Lab Initiative An initiative to empower our communities to teach each other, learn together, and remember our collective knowledge of plants and our reciprocal relationships. Through this work we aim to better understand, preserve and protect our natural communities. Our programs are committed to community science, environmental justice, and fostering engagement in and collaboration with historically marginalized and POC communities. Border BioBlitz A bi-national community science effort to record as many species as possible along the U.S.-Mexico border. Annually, BCDI leads the California portion of the Border Bioblitz. Join the May 2024 BioBlitz and particpate in document the stunning biodiversity of the borderlands. Learn More Youth Border BioBlitz Project A community science cohort for youth and their families in the greater San Diego region to join us in embarking on a collective journey to explore, understand, and document the biodiversity of our coastal and borderland ecosystem communities. This program culminates with the Border Bioblitz occurring in May 2024 Learn More Mobile Plant-Based STEM Workshops for Youth Mobile STEM workshops with topics based around botany, ecology, and the environment. Plant Camp A youth summer camp based around all things Plants! Classes, Workshops, and Experiences We facilitate and collaborate in a wide range of botanical workshops for all ages. Our goal is to make the botanical sciences accessible to everyone. Biological Consulting Providing professional biological consulting services for field botany and restoration projects in southern California and the desert southwest.

Contact Us Address 4510 N. River Rd. Oceanside, CA 92057 Phone 760-575-4898 Email General Email info@plantspeoplecommunity.org Community Roots Farm farm@plantspeoplecommunity.org

We seek to nurture our relationships with plants so that we may cultivate a more peaceful, equitable, and regenerative planet. Our Initiatives The Plant Lab An initiative to empower our communities to teach each other, learn together, and remember our collective knowledge of plants and our reciprocal relationships. Through this work we aim to better understand, preserve and protect our natural communities. Our programs are committed to community science, environmental justice, and fostering engagement in and collaboration with historically marginalized and POC communities. Program Highlights: Border BioBlitz Learn More The Milpa Initiative An initiative dedicated to cultivating seed sovereignty for our region. Our vision is rooted in climate resilience, ensuring access to culturally relevant seeds, and building an equitable and just food system. We strive to nurture a future where our communities have control over their seeds, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and promoting local resilience. Program Highlights: San Diego Seed Farmer Training Apply Now Greening Spaces Nurturing Resilient Communities through Green Spaces An initiative dedicated to supporting and creating community-relevant green spaces. We recognize the vital role of these spaces in enhancing community health, fostering cultural sharing, addressing environmental justice, and promoting equitable food access. By collaboratively working with local residents, organizations, local government, and other stakeholders, we ensure that each space is tailored to meet the unique needs and aspirations of the community. These vibrant and inclusive green spaces become hubs for physical activity, recreation, and meaningful connections with nature, nurturing the well-being and resilience of all community members. Program Highlights: Community Roots Farm Go to Farm Website EquiTable Food Making local, pesticide-free produce accessible to all people in our community is the core mission of our program. Through food distributions, free farm stands, and strategic programs that reduce hurdles to access this food, we aim to bridge the gap between locally-grown produce and historically underserved communities. Additionally, we take pride in growing food on our own urban farm and providing Farm Shares to the community, promoting a deeper connection to the source of their sustenance. Our collaborative approach involves working closely with community-based organizations, local governments, stakeholders, and community members to create equitable and sustainable food systems. Program Highlights: Seed to Preschool

Greening Spaces Initiative An initiative dedicated to supporting and creating community-relevant green spaces. We recognize the vital role of these spaces in enhancing community health, fostering cultural sharing, addressing environmental justice, and promoting equitable food access. By collaboratively working with local residents, organizations, local government, and other stakeholders, we ensure that each space is tailored to meet the unique needs and aspirations of the community. These vibrant and inclusive green spaces become hubs for physical activity, recreation, and meaningful connections with nature, nurturing the well-being and resilience of all community members. Community Roots Farm A 1-acre community-run neighborhood farm in Oceanside, CA that seeks to help nurture, heal, and improve the quality of life of those around us. This project addresses the goals of both our EquitTable Food and Greening Spaces Initiatives. Community Plant Share We provide free plant seedlings for school gardens, food justice projects, and community greening efforts throughout San Diego County. Our paid plant subscriptions sustain this free seedling program, promoting sustainable food gardens and fostering community resilience. Plot Garden Project A regnerative urban food garden at the Plot Restaurant in Oceanside, California. Friendly Church Community Garden A community garden on the property of the Friendly Church of God in Christ located in Oceanside, California.

Initiatives The Plant Lab An initiative to empower our communities to teach each other, learn together, and remember our collective knowledge of plants and our reciprocal relationships. Through this work we aim to better understand, preserve and protect our natural communities. Our programs are committed to community science, environmental justice, and fostering engagement in and collaboration with historically marginalized and POC communities. The Milpa Initiative An initiative dedicated to cultivating seed sovereignty for our region. Our vision is rooted in climate resilience, ensuring access to culturally relevant seeds, and building an equitable and just food system. We strive to nurture a future where our communities have control over their seeds, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and promoting local resilience. EquiTable Food Making local, pesticide-free produce accessible to all people in our community is the core mission of our program. Through food distributions, free farm stands, and strategic programs that reduce hurdles to access this food, we aim to bridge the gap between locally-grown produce and underserved communities. Additionally, we take pride in growing food on our own urban farm and providing Farm Shares to the community, promoting a deeper connection to the source of their sustenance. Our collaborative approach involves working closely with community-based organizations, local governments, stakeholders, and community members to create equitable and sustainable food systems. Greening Spaces Nurturing Resilient Communities through Green Spaces An initiative dedicated to supporting and creating community-relevant green spaces. We recognize the vital role of these spaces in enhancing community health, fostering cultural sharing, addressing environmental justice, and promoting equitable food access. By collaboratively working with local residents, organizations, local government, and other stakeholders, we ensure that each space is tailored to meet the unique needs and aspirations of the community. These vibrant and inclusive green spaces become hubs for physical activity, recreation, and meaningful connections with nature, nurturing the well-being and resilience of all community members.

EquiTable Food Initiative Making local, pesticide-free produce accessible to all people in our community is the core mission of our program. Through food distributions, free farm stands, and strategic programs that reduce hurdles to access this food, we aim to bridge the gap between locally-grown produce and underserved communities. Additionally, we take pride in growing food on our own urban farm and providing Farm Shares to the community, promoting a deeper connection to the source of their sustenance. Our collaborative approach involves working closely with community-based organizations, local governments, stakeholders, and community members to create equitable and sustainable food systems. Community Roots Farm A 1-acre community-run neighborhood farm in Oceanside, CA that seeks to help nurture, heal, and improve the quality of life of those around us. This project addresses the goals of both our EquitTable Food and Greening Spaces Initiatives. Seed to Preschool This program addresses the issues of childhood obesity, food insecurity, and establishing healthy eating habits early in a child’s life. We provide nutritional information for families, support preschool staff in incorporating nutrition education into the curriculum, and help build and maintain school gardens and healthy outdoor play areas for the youngest members of our communities. We deliver produce from Community Roots Farm weekly to 5 low-income, state-funded preschools which are used in meals prepared for the children as well as provided to their families.

From our Founder and Executive Director, Bianca Bonilla Our Story This organization was a vision I had in my mid-20s when I was immersed in doing environmental education in non-formal settings while learning about farming and botany in college. Meanwhile I was also involved with farming and doing work as a field botanist - I was gaining so much knowledge through these interactions with the plants, the land, as well as through a variety of human mentors who were taking the time to teach me. I began to see the disconnect so many folks had with botanical knowledge and how a lot of it, seemingly, felt locked up in the Ivory Tower. I wondered how we could unlock and remember our collective knowledge and increase the collective intimacy with plants that many of us interact with daily. How can we remember and reclaim how to live in solidarity with the earth, our human, and more-than-human kin. How do we better acknowledge our community experts? How can this knowledge put us on the path to healing by remembering what it means to be in a direct and balanced relationship with plants, and all other organisms that co-habitate with us on this land. I feel strongly that this work is in service to dismantling white supremacy, settler colonial logics, transphobia, ableism, homophobia, and human supremacy where it lives in us and within our communities. By knowing deeply the plants around us, the land, the other organisms we co-habitate with, we know deeply ourselves and each other. And through this understanding will come love and care and healing - for one's self, our community, and every living and non-living entity with which we are a part of the whole with. Mission Our mission is to nurture our relationships with plants so that we may cultivate a more peaceful, equitable, and regenerative planet. Our Team Staff and Board of Directors Bianca Bonilla (she/her) Founder. Executive Director and President. ​ Rose Tuttle (she/her) Community Roots Farm Program Manager Eurydice Kolbe (she/her) Nursery Manager Kelly Eichten (she/her) Co-Chair P.J. Eichten (he/him) Co-chair Pedro Bonilla (he/him) Secretary Rita Zeigler (she/her) Treasurer

The Milpa Initiative An initiative dedicated to cultivating seed sovereignty. Our vision is rooted in climate resilience, ensuring access to culturally relevant seeds, and building an equitable and just food system. We strive to nurture a future where our communities have control over their seeds, feel empowered to share and continue to practice traditional foodways, and uplift our cultural heritages through seeds and plants. A current goal of the Milpa Initiative is to cultivate regional seed sovereignty for the San Diego bioregion that is essential for ensuring food security, ecological sustainability, and cultural preservation. Seed Library We are building out a seed library at Community Roots Farm in Oceanside, CA. This will serve as a regional seed bank that will support seed saving and sovereignty for our region. San Diego Seed Farmer Training The Seed Farmer Training in 2024 is designed to empower farmers from BIPOC communities in the San Diego bioregion with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to become successful seed farmers and seed stewards. The program runs from January 2024 to December 2024. Apply Now

About the 2024 San Diego Seed Farmer Training The San Diego Seed Farmer Training in 2024 is designed to empower farmers from BIPOC communities in the San Diego bioregion with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to become successful seed farmers and seed stewards. The program runs from January 2024 to December 2024. This training is a program of the Milpa Initiative. A goal of the Milpa Initiative is to form the Seed Stewards of San Diego to cultivate regional seed sovereignty that is essential for ensuring food security, ecological sustainability, and cultural preservation. We hope that through this training we begin to cultivate regional seed experts that will create a more robust, resilient, and collaborative seed landscape. *All classes and materials will be in English. We acknowledge that there is a language barrier to access this program. Our goal is to cultivate regional experts representative of our communities so that future programming can be more inclusive. ​ Program Highlights Eight monthly virtual meetings (January - December) Participants will engage in monthly meetings, creating a safe, supportive, and collaborative online learning environment. These meetings will feature expert guest speakers, discussions, and interactive workshops on various aspects of seed farming, practices, crop selection, pest management, seed processing, seed drying, and storage. Four in-person meetings (Quarterly) To complement virtual learning, participants will come together for four in-person meetings held quarterly at strategically selected locations in our San Diego bioregion. These gathers will offer hands-on training, fieldwork, and networking opportunities, allowing participants to deepen their practical skills and build strong relationships with fellow cohort members. On-farm site visit The program includes a site visit where the group will come out to your farm, in addition to our monthly trainings. Farm hosts receive a stipend for their time hosting. Attendance of these site visits for other participants are optional. Access to seed equipment and seeds Participants will have access to seeds and essential seed farming equipment, ensuring they have the tools they need to start or expand their seed farming endeavors. Equipment access will be provided through partnerships with local organizations or through a shared equipment library. Monthly Stipends Recognizing the financial barriers that many farmers face, the program offers monthly stipends to all participants. These stipends are intended to offset some of the costs associated with participation such as using cash crop growing space for seed growing, internet access, travel expenses, and any other materials. Stipends: Monthly Seed Grow-Out Stipend: $250 For each Zoom training (8 sessions): $150 In-person training (4 sessions): $250 On-farm site visit for host: $150 Who Should Apply Currently farming in San Diego County At least 2 years experience farming (Please note that this program is meant for experienced farmers and is not a beginning farmer program.) Access to land with permission to grow crop out for full season. BIPOC prioritized *If you do not meet all of these expectations but would still like to join, please write to us to let us know. How to Apply Please complete the following steps to apply: Complete application here . Fill out the Seed Library Needs Assessment here . Wait to hear from us! Reach out to us directly if you have any questions. *Both the application and the seed library assessment must be completed in order to be considered for this seed training program. Timeline November 15 Early December January 2024 Applications due Notification to applicants. First Zoom meeting About the Facilitators Cathryn Henning Cathryn “Cat” Henning is a farmer focused on farming systems that regenerate the soil. She worked in nonprofit farming for 9 years connecting folks to the land and empowering volunteers with the skills and information to participate in a healthy food system. Now she co-owns BeeWorthy Farms, a farm growing cut flowers and medicinal herbs for people and pollinators! Cat has embraced becoming a business owner and is enjoying learning when to follow and when to lead with her business partners. It truly is a beautiful process when we learn to let go of control and allow things to unfold with grace and ease. Bianca Bonilla She is a mother, a farmer, and a field biologist interested in how we can acknowledge and increase our collective intimacy with plants. She is the founder and director of Botanical Community Development Initiatives (BCDI). She has been feeling called in recent years to focus more of her work on seed stewarship . She has been actively learning from and building relationships with seeds for over a decade in the gardens, farms and the natural areas she has been involved with and with each season she is humbled to continue to build upon her knowledge and skills to hopefully become a better seed steward for and with her community. The Milpa Initiative was born from the thoughtful heartwork through working with seeds and through many conversations with friends and teachers to be able to explore, cultivate, and protect our relationships with seeds while building sovereignty for our communities. The San Diego Seed Farmer Training made possible in collaboration with: Questions? Bianca Bonilla bianca@plantspeoplecommunity.org Cat Henning Cathryn.Henning@sdcounty.ca.gov This program is funded by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency's Public Health Services and facilitated by the San Diego Foundation.

WE SEEK TO CULTIVATE A PEACEFUL, EQUITABLE, AND REGENERATIVE PLANET THROUGH PLANT RELATIONSHIPS APPLY NOW CONTACT US OUR MISSION Our mission is to nurture our relationships with plants so that we may cultivate a more peaceful, equitable, and regenerative planet. READ MORE OUR INITIATIVES THE PLANT LAB THE MILPA INITIATIVE GREENING SPACES EQUITABLE FOOD An initiative to empower our communities to teach each other, learn together, and remember our collective knowledge of plants and our reciprocal relationships. Through this work, we aim to better understand, preserve, and protect our natural communities. Our programs are committed to community science, environmental justice, and fostering engagement in and collaboration with historically marginalized and POC communities. APPLY NOW An initiative dedicated to cultivating seed sovereignty for our region. Our vision is rooted in climate resilience, ensuring access to culturally relevant seeds, and building an equitable and just food system. We strive to nurture a future where our communities have control over their seeds, fostering sustainable agricultural practices, and promoting local resilience. ​ APPLY NOW An initiative dedicated to supporting and creating community-relevant green spaces. We recognize the vital role of these spaces in enhancing community health, fostering cultural sharing, addressing environmental justice, and promoting equitable food access. By collaboratively working with local residents, organizations, local government, and other stakeholders, we ensure that each space is tailored to meet the unique needs and aspirations of the community. These vibrant and inclusive green spaces become hubs for physical activity, recreation, and meaningful connections with nature, nurturing the well-being and resilience of all community members. GO TO FARM WEBSITE We're an initiative focused on fostering community-specific green spaces. These areas play a crucial role in promoting community health, cultural exchange, environmental justice, and fair food access. By collaborating with residents, organizations, local government, and stakeholders, we customize each space to fit the community's distinct needs. These vibrant green spaces serve as hubs for physical activity, recreation, and connections with nature, enhancing the well-being and resilience of all community members. MORE INFORMATION SOME INTERESTING FACTS 75 Globalization Work 100 Happy Donators 20 Success Initiatives 300 Volunteer Reached JOIN OUR EVENT & HELPING US BY DONATION Your donation helps us cultivate a planet where plants thrive, fostering peace, equity, and regeneration. DONATE NOW

About the Border BioBlitz Started in 2018, the Border BioBlitz is a collaborative initiative dedicated to celebrating and conserving the rich biodiversity found along the ecoregions of our bordlands of the United States and Mexico. This annual event brings together scientists, conservationists, community members, and nature enthusiasts to document the diversity of plants, animals, and ecosystems that thrive in this unique region. Join the Border BioBlitz iNaturalist Project Learn about the Youth Border BioBlitz Project Participate! ​The Border BioBlitz is an initiative of Next Generation of Sonoran Desert Researchers (NGEN) Learn more about the Border BioBlitz here . You can create a team (we call them nodes) to particpate as a group. You can join a team that has already been created. ​ We are using the iNaturalist app to document biodiveristy. You just need a smartphone or a camera to participate! ​ Join the 2024 Border BioBlitz Southern California and Baja California Border BioBlitz Botanical Community Development Inititaives (BCDI) faciliates efforts of the Border BioBlitz in southern California alonside partners in Baja California. Our Executive Director, Bianca Bonilla, is a co-founder of the Border BioBlitz alongside our colleague Sula Vanderplank. ​ 2024 is our first year to receive funding for the Border BioBlitz project. Thank you to the Binational Resilience Initiative for this support. BCDI and Eco Alianza from Baja California are working together across borders for the 2024 Border BioBlitz in California and Baja California. ​ Check out the nodes in our eco-region! San Diego Bay National Wildlife Refuge (April 6) Campo - Shockey Truck Trail (April 18) Jacumé (April 18-19) Binantional Marine node (April 20-22) Rio Tijuana (May 2) Buena Vista Audubon, Oceanside (May 3) Rancho Bonito, Ensenada (May 4) Mexicali, Cerro el Clempiés (May 4) Border BioBlitz Discovery Day - Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve (May 5, 8 AM–3 PM) Punta Banda (May 5) Corte Madera near Lake Morena (May 11) Kendall-Frost Marsh, Mission Bay, San Diego (May 11) Tijuna River National Estuarine Research Reserve (May 12) Rancho Ruiz (May 14–15) San Bernardino National Wildlife Refuge/Rancho San Bernardino (May 17–18) Rancho San Bernardino; Agua Prieta, Sonora (May 18) Rice Canyon Open Space Preserve (May 18th from 10 AM–12 PM) San Miguel (May 23) San Quintin (May 26) Playa Saldamando (May 28–29) ​ More events are being added each day! You can create a node (team) or join one here! ​ ​ ​ Participate in the Border BioBlitz Border BioBlitz Discover Day Mary 5th, 2024 Tijuana Estuarine Research Reserve Join us for our Border BioBlitz kick-off event where we'll celebrate the biodivieristy of our borderland eco-region. ​ Partners Join the Border BioBlitz de la Frontera #borderbioblitz2024 Project funded by: Binational Resilience Initiative, partnership of San Diego Foundation, International Community Foundation, Resilient Cities Catalyst and San Diego Regional Climate Collaborative.